Guatemalan Tiger Rump
Davus pentaloris
The Guatemalan Tiger Rump (Davus pentaloris) is a compact, tiger-striped charmer — a New World dwarf-ish terrestrial from Mexico and Guatemala with a copper carapace and a bold orange-and-black abdomen. A prolific webber and fast grower for its size, it's docile but genuinely skittish, quick to bolt when startled and quick to flick hairs. Small, colourful, active, and beginner-friendly (with an eye on its speed), it's a lot of spider in a modest package.
- Temperature72–80°F (22–27°C) — room temperature, no heat lamp. Comfortable in a normal home.
- HumidityModerate to damp, 65–75%, with a lightly moist substrate and a water dish. A Central American forest-edge species — keep the base slightly damp and the surface drier, with good ventilation. Not wet; damp base plus airflow.
- Adult sizeA small species: adults reach 4–4.5 inches across the legs (diagonal leg span). A steady grower at a moderate pace.
- LifespanFemales roughly 8–12 years; mature males 2–4 years. Shorter-lived than the giants, longer than a true dwarf.
Enclosure
A small terrestrial footprint with depth for burrowing and anchor points for its heavy webbing — a nano to small enclosure, cork hide, water dish, secure ventilation (it's quick). It webs prolifically and burrows enough to feel secure.
Substrate & water
3–4 inches of lightly damp coco/topsoil, drier on top, with a water dish. It burrows and webs heavily over the surface. Ventilate the damper base.
Feeding
A fast, eager little feeder that grows quickly for its size. Prey to abdomen size; juveniles twice weekly, adults weekly. Remove uneaten prey in 24 hours.
Temperament & defenses
Beginner-friendly but genuinely skittish and fast — docile in that it won't seek trouble, but quick to bolt and to kick urticating hairs when startled. Venom mild. Keep the enclosure secure and wash up after work; a display-and-observe spider given the speed.
Keeper’s notes
A brilliant little display species for a keeper who wants colour, webbing, and activity in a small footprint — that tiger-rump pattern and copper carapace punch well above its size. Beginner-friendly if you respect the speed at maintenance. Keep the base damp, ventilate, and enjoy one of the more characterful compact terrestrials.